Bologna, June 30, 2024 – Here we are. The big moment has arrived, and this afternoon the Tour de France arrives under the Two Towers, where fans, guests and visitors have already gathered to support the 176 riders in the race and to see the incredible sporting spectacle. Only the cyclists and the caravan are missing, because yesterday the city wrapped itself in the yellow cloak awaiting the Grande Boucle, setting its organizational machine in motion. In San Luca, in the afternoon, the giant screen appeared positioned right at the Orfanelle curve, where some yellow writings on the ground commemorate Marco Pantani.
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The Tour de France timetable from Cesenatico to Bologna: where it passes today
From the early hours of yesterday evening and during the night, the preparations began in Piazza VIII Agosto, the finish line of the race, where the stage and the infrastructures related to the finish line are located, from the stands to the podium to the guest area and the press room. Here too, a large screen allows the public to follow the race live. The Montagnola park, together with Via Indipendenza, has become the base camp for the organizers of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, and is also home to the Fan Park and Confesercenti Village. The preparation in Via Irnerio for the last two kilometers of the race began at 4.
Yesterday, parking bans with forced removal began, including for bicycles, in all the streets involved in the route. Everything will return to normal today evening, around 6.30pm. Since yesterday evening, traffic has been blocked in via Irnerio, via del Pallone and in piazza VIII Agosto. This morning at 6, however, traffic stopped on Carducci, Ercolani and Filopanti avenues and also on the stretch of Via Irnerio that goes from Porta San Donato to Alessandrini.
Traffic ban starting from 6am also in via Indipendenza – from Irnerio to Rizzoli -, in via San Luca, Monte Albano and in Largo Nasalli Rocca. From 1pm, traffic will be interrupted in the streets of Alberto Mario, della Battaglia, Cardinale de Albornoz, Benedetto Marcello, Torino, Po and Emilia Levante. At the same time, the following streets join the closure: via Indipendenza – from Irnerio to XX Settembre -, dei Mille, Marconi, piazza dei Martiri and Malpighi, via Sant’Isaia, Andrea Costa – from porta Sant’Isaia to via Bandiera – and the Bernardini roundabout; then again, via Irma Bandiera, de Coubertin, Curiel, via Saragozza and via di Casaglia. The internal semi-lanes of Aldini, Panzacchi and Gozzadini avenues will close at 1pm, while the internal ones at 3pm. Between tonight and tomorrow, the Hera service will also return to normal. The State Police will also be on the field to make up for the municipal strike, to guarantee public order during the event: the police headquarters says that there will be around a hundred men and special units, with the involvement of other law enforcement agencies and the organizers of the event. The roads affected by the route have been patrolled by officers since this morning, particularly at critical points. The city is celebrating, and to officially start the countdown, an aperitif, with the contribution of pastry chef Gino Fabbri, opened the dance. The setting is the Tuday Conad in via Indipendenza. “We have become the Sport Valley – says councilor Mattia Santori –, Bologna will be up to par: this was a test to show that we can stay at this level. We expect more or less 40/50 thousand fans, to which we add a induced by citizens”. Also at the inauguration were Tour organizers and sponsors, including Soverini. And after the arrival of the delegation, with coordinator Laura Sardu, of nine cyclists who have been anticipating the men’s tour for years to relaunch gender equality in sport, the party can begin.
